Issue Brief on “Renaissance of Pakistan-Russia Relations”

Pakistan and Russia held their first-ever consultation on regional issues on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Islamabad. During the consultations, a wide range of regional issues as well as key areas of mutual interest, including economic cooperation and connectivity were discussed. This is yet another sign of warming relations following lingering Cold War antagonism.

Historically, the relationship between Islamabad and Moscow was treated as a function of latter’s relationship with two states, the United States and India. The Cold War further increased the gap between Pakistan and Soviet Union as the former aligned itself with the American block, while India leaned towards USSR (although India maintained its stance as a Non-Aligned state). Meanwhile, Soviet Union’s relationship with China also took a turn towards the worse in 1969, while Pakistan found an ally in Beijing. For most part of their mutual political history, Pakistan and USSR found themselves to be on the opposite sides of the table.